The wildfires in California have become a heavily politicized catastrophe, with President-elect Donald Trump attributing the dry nature of the forested area to a lack of maintenance by the state and leveraging the disaster to reignite a previous conflict with the leadership of Gov. Gavin Newsom and call for his resignation. The criticism could complicate disaster relief efforts, with some Republican lawmakers questioning whether aid should be conditional due to perceived mismanagement at the state level. Trump has previously withheld federal aid from states and, in September, threatened to do the same to California unless Newsom agreed to redirect more water toward agricultural applications.

The Cookware Sustainability Alliance has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota over Amara's Law, which bans nonessential PFAS use and requires disclosure of PFAS in products. The alliance argues the law is unconstitutional and burdensome for businesses.

A UCLA study has confirmed the potential of Los Angeles' $6 billion Pure Water L.A. initiative to enhance water security amid climate challenges. The project aims to recycle all wastewater for drinking by 2035, generating over 250,000 acre-feet of potable water annually for more than 500,000 households. The study highlights the project's ability to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and aging infrastructure, offering a model for other cities facing similar issues.

Wellington, Colo., has completed major expansions of its Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility on time and under budget, doubling system capacities to meet the needs of its growing population. Hensel Phelps led construction for the $39 million WTP expansion, Moltz Construction led construction for the $53 million WRF expansion, and both projects were designed by Jacobs Engineering.

The Randall Community Water District in South Dakota has awarded construction contracts for the $105 million Connecting Neighbors Regional Waterline Project, set to begin in spring 2025. The project will build a 72-mile pipeline from the Missouri River to southeastern South Dakota, including Mitchell and Davison County, as well as upgrade the Platte Treatment Plant.

The US Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Project identifies agricultural runoff as the leading cause of water quality issues in rivers and streams, the third-leading cause in lakes, and the second-largest source of wetland pollution due to farming's extensive soil disturbance and contributions of sediment, pesticides, and herbicides into stormwater runoff. Researchers and regulators are placing new scrutiny on the presence of PFAS in agricultural runoff.

A team from the University of Waterloo in Ontario has used a natural process to engineer a new trait into bacteria commonly found in wastewater. The resulting bacteria were designed to consume polyethylene terephthalate, and lab tests indicate it can degrade PET by 50% in four days. The team hopes to use the technology in wastewater treatment facilities.

The Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica is under scrutiny as scientists warn of warm seawater potentially destabilizing the shelf, according to a study in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. Data from 2017 to 2021 show that warm water flows, influenced by ocean currents and sea ice levels, could threaten the shelf's stability.

Poor communication with your team can affect employee trust, retention and engagement, writes clinical psychologist and author Monica Vermani, who offers seven steps to better communication, including the need for leaders to engage in two-way communication, adapt their style and invest in training. "When leaders share organizational goals and values, talk about opportunities on the horizon and share information about navigating organizational changes and challenges, they create a culture where employees feel valued and included," Vermani writes.

Whether you work "inside the fence" at a treatment facility or "outside the fence" in the watershed or community, WEFTEC® is your opportunity to push the boundaries and affect the water environment. By January 15, 2025, submit proposals for technical sessions to be held during WEFTEC 2025 in Chicago, taking place September 27 through October 1. Get more details by downloading the WEFTEC 2025 Call for Content.